Carpet sweeper



Jan. 20, 1953 M. D-E KADT ETAL CARPET SWEEPER 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1947 Inventors MAUR'TS de KADT JA'ouEs de KADT 21 Jan. 20, 1953 M. DE KADT ET AL CARPET SWEEPER 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1947 T moo AA m KK e ee ndd FIG. 9. v

Afforneys Patented Jan. 20, 1953 CARPET SWEEPER Mani-its de Kadt and Jacques de Kadt, New York, NL'Y,, assignors'to Briam-Industrial Corporation. New York, N. Y., a corporation otNew Application January 13, 19%"? Serial No. 721 80 8 17' Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in carpet sweepers I The primary object of this invention is to provide a carpet sweeper with a rotary brush fixedly journaled and driven always in the same direction of rotation by a pair'of resiliently mounted drive wheels, whether or not the sweeper is moved forward or backward;

A further object of the invention is to provide a carpet sweeper of the foregoing character wherein the drive wheels have resilient mounts attached to their wheel axle for normally holding the sweeper body and brush above the floor, said resilient mounts being so pivoted directly above the ends of the wheel axle as not to urge the wheels either forward or backward.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carpet sweeper of the foregoing character that will be silent in operation by making the driving wheels friction-drive surfaces of a rubber or fiber material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single rear wheelat the apex of the sweeper which not only affords ease of operation but also permits equal transmission of power when the sweeper is operated forward or backward in a straight direction, or on any'size or arc.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a carpet sweeper with a totally enclosed casing having an upper part and a lower part, the lower part of the casing totally enclosing the bottom except for the portions occupied by the wheels and a 'dust'pan.

With the above and other objects in view that will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved carpet sweeper.

"Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the carpet sweeper;

Figure 3 is. a frontviewwith the left=hand side of the casing broken away.

(01. IVS-45) Figure 4 is a top plan'viewwith the upper portion of the casing broken. away.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken. on the sectionline. 5-5 of Figure;

Figure 6 enlargedview of: Figure: :5 "show-' l 'lgjiiiheflg ationof thedust pan.

Figurelisadetail 'viewof the left madame wheel of Figure3 and brush showing the' rotati'on of the drivewheel and; brushwhentheiearpett" sweeper is" moved forward.

2 Figure 8 is a detail view similar toFigure 7 but showing the rotation of a drive wheel and brushtwhen the carpet sweeper is-moved back- .7. ..i u

"Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the section line 9"-9 of Figure Referring more-in detail to the accompanying drawingsythere is illustrated a carpetsweeper comprising .a casing, preferably of a somewhat triangular form'in plan view with a general oval contour extending from the front to theback. Referring to Figure 3; the casing is madeupof two pieces 'of .sheet metal an upper one piece casing l0 stamped into the form indicated with a flanged portion-l I; and a lower one piece casing I2'having a" flanged portion |3 The two flanged portions l2) and I3 fit tightly together and are held in .pla'ceby suitable screws.- Positioned'over the flanged coupling is a'buffer element IA of rubber which'extends around the entire sweeper.

The upper one piece casing ill has in its upper surface; as shown inFigure 1, a'square-shaped opening as indicated at" l0" through which moves a dust pan operating member, to be described later." The lower one piece casing 12 as shown in Figure 2, is formed with-astampedout' or cutoutopening having six sides;-comprisinga forward edge l5 parallel to the-forward edge of the. casing, two parallel sides Iii-l5, two inwardly inclined edges'll andlg and a rear edge I9 parallel to the'forward edge 15w Within this center cut-out'opening there extends a rotary brush'and a dust pan, both to be described later. The lower one piece casing l2 also is formed with two rectangular out-out openings 2 53-25 through which extend the two drive-wheels, to be described later. At the rear ohapeX-portion of the case l2 there is another-rectangular cutout or stamped-out opening 'fl throughwhich extends athird or tail wheel; to be described later. Referring to Figures" 3 and '7, there is best shown areinforcing plate -'22 shaped and secured to the inside fo'r'ward portion of the o'ne apiece bottom casing l2. -.t

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown secured to the inside surface of the" case I01. suitable mounting clips 22160 which: are "zat'tach'edLtwo side mounting plates 23 and-$24 and rear mounting plate 25.":The itwo side :mounting nd '24. are s'o' positioned thatxthey with the adjacent-inside surfaceof for mounting the twordriveewheels 3 jacent inside surface of the casing I for mounting a U-shaped bracket 25. The bracket 25' is apertured to receive an axle 25 which supports a rubber tired rear or tail wheel 28.

Referring to Figure 6, each of the side mounting plates 23 and 24 are formed with a cut-out portion or slot 29 of rectangular shape extending from the lower edge vertically upward to about the middle of the plates. Within these slots 29 there are freely positioned the end portions 30 (see Figure 4), of a drive wheel axle 30 which is so shaped that its middle portion is co-extensive with a rotary brush, to be described later, while the end portions are bent into the form of crank arms. The middle portion of the wheel axle 30 is freely guided for both up and down as well as pivoted movement by a depending U-shaped guide member 3i attached to the inner surface of the upper casing ID.

Referring to Figures 4 and 6, there are shown two U-shaped spring members 32, positioned along the outer surfaces of plates 23 and 24 having their upper ends bent at a right angle and pivoted in apertures indicated at 33 vertically above the slots 29 in the side plates 23 and 24 while their lower ends 34 are so shaped that they bear against a portion of the upper surface of the end portions 30' of the drive wheel axle 30. Retaining elements 35, in the form of a wire bent at a right angle have their upper ends bent and inserted into apertures 36 in the side mounting plates 23 and 24, while their lower ends are formed with eyes 31 through which pass dust pan pivot mountings, to be described later. These retaining elements 35 serve as barriers against which the wheel mounting ends 33' of the axle 35 ride when urged downwardly by the spring members 32. The spring members 32 although pivoting about their mounting ends at 33 are used solely to maintain the relation between the rug or floor surface and the drive wheels 26 and 21, mounted on the end portions 30' of the wheel axle.

The drive wheels 26 and 2'! are of cylindrical cup-shape having a center hub portion 38 and 1 a peripheral rim portion 33, as shown in Figure 9. The outside of the rim 39 is covered with a rubber tire 48, while the inner peripheral surface of the rim is lined with a rubber surface 41 which is designated as the outer friction driving surface. The outer peripheral surface of the hub 38 is covered with a rubber surface 42 which is designated as the inner frictional driving surface.

In Figure 9 there is also shown the mounting of :1

one of the brush bearings generally indicated at 43 having a cylindrical collar portion 44 and a reduced cylindrical portion 45 which is press fitted into an aperture 46 in the side mounting plate 24. The aperture 46 is at a point intermediate the inner and outer friction driving surfaces of the drive wheels and substantially on a level with the axis of the drive wheels when they are in their extreme downward position (see Figure 6).

Within the bearings 43 there rotate brush holders 41' each having formed head portions 48 which have slots in their faces as shown at 43 in Figure 6. These slotted portions 49 serve as receptacles and drives for each end of a brush shaft 50 of a rotary brush as shown in Figure 4. The formed head portions 48 have a peripheral slot as shown at 52 in Figure 9 in which rides an open ended circular brush retaining element 53 as shown in Figure 4. Each outer end of the brush holders 4! have press fitted thereto drive bushings 54, preferably of brass, with inwardly extending flange portions 55 whose inner peripheral surface is in spaced relationship with the adjacent outer peripheral surface of the collar portion 44 on the brush bearings 43. The outer peripheral surface of the drive bushings 54 is knurled.

In Figure 9, the drive wheel 21 is shown with its outer frictional driving surface M in friction contact with the knurled surface of the brush drive bushing 54. Such a position is obtained where the sweeper is moved forward by pressure being applied to the sweeper handle 56 attached to either side of the upper casing H! toward the forward portion of the sweeper as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure '7, there is shown the operation of the drive wheels and rotary brush when the sweeper is given a forward movement to the left. In this view the left hand wheel of Figure 3 is shown. However, the action applies the same to both drive wheels. The drive wheel 21 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, due to its frictional engagement with the surface of the rug or floor. The outer frictional driving surface 4|, of the drive wheel 27, is in contact with the knurled surface of the brush drive bushing 54 and rotates the brush 5| in a counter-clockwise direction. Pressure applied to the handle 58 attached to the casing l0, moves the sweeper forward and the drive wheel axle 32 tends to pivot counterclockwise in its guide member 3! thereby forcing the outer frictional driving surface 4 I, on the drive wheel 21, into frictional contact with the knurled surface of the brush drive bushing 55. It will be noted that element 36 thus acts as a carrier for the drive wheels.

In Figure 8 there is shown the operation of the drive wheel and the rotary brush when the sweep or is pulled backward by its handle to the right. The drive wheel 21 rotates in a clockwise direction, due to its frictional engagement with the surface of the rug or floor. The inner frictional driving surface 42, of the drive wheel 21, is in contact with the knurled surface of the brush drive bushing 54 and rotates the brush 5! still in a counter-clockwise direction. The pull applied to the handle 55 attached to the casing l6 pulls the sweeper backward and the drive wheel axle 30 tends to pivot clockwise in its guide member 3|, thereby forcing the inner frictional driving surface 42, on the drive wheel 21, into frictional contact with the knurled surface of the brush drive bushing 54.

In either of the actions just described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, downward pressure is applied through the handle 55 so as to force the casing l0 and its attached mountings downward against the spring pressure of springs 32, attached to the drive wheel axle, thereby per mitting the brush 5! to contact the rug or floor surface so as to pick up particles to be deposited in the dust pan to be described hereinafter.

As the brush 5! always rotates in the same direction, namely, counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figures '2 and 8, the particles picked up by the brush from the surface of the rug or floor are carried by the brush and deposited in a dust pan generally indicated at 51.

The dust pan generally indicated at 5? in Figure 2 is shaped with six sides so as to fit into the rear portion of the center cut-out opening in the lower one piece casing I2. Referring to Figure 6, the dust pan 5'! is shown with an upturned forward edge 58- which is of a circular contour to. correspond with the circularsurface of the brush 5!. The remaining edges of the dust pan are shown upturned as at 59 so as to form suitable shoulders for retaining the collected particles within the pan. The. dust pan is pivotally mounted at its forward outer corners by means of suitable pins 60 extending into the eyelets 31 of the elements 35.

The dust pan 5?, as viewed in Figures 4, 5 and 6, is dumped by a dumping lever generally indicated at 6!. The dumping lever 6| has a reduced portion at its upper end 52 which is bent at a right angle to the lever and pivots in a suitable aperture in the adjacent side mounting plate 24. The lever BI is also formed with an upwardly projecting arm 63 which extends through the opening H3 in the top of the upper casing H3. Also movably inserted in this opening iii is a cup-shaped cap 64 having a flanged retaining portion 65. The cap 65 fits over the end of the arm 63 of the lever 6|. A spring generally indicated at 66, of one piece, is formed with an upper arm 61, a lower arm 68, and a spirally bent portion at 69 intermediate the arms which pivotally fits over a pivot post projection it on the lever Bl. The upper end of the arm 6? has a bent portion H which fits over an adjacent portion of the lever El while the lower end 12 of the arm 68 is bent at a rightv angle and forms a pivoted connection in a side 59 of the dust pan.

In Figure 4 there is shown a spring 13 positioned at the right hand side of the dust pan, having one end bent and pivoted in an aperture in the adjacent dust pan wall 59, while the other end is pivoted in the adjacent side mounting plate 23.

Both of the springs 66 and i3 serve to urge the dust pan 5'! into closed position. To open the dust pan, pressure is applied on the cap 54 which urges the lever BI downward, as shown in broken lines in Figure 6, carrying along with it the spring 58 whose lower arm 68 serves to pivot the dust pan downwardly about the pivots Gil, thereby permitting the collected particles within the dust pan to slide out the rear open end of the dust pan.

A brush comb i5, as shown in Figures 3, i and 5, is positioned intermediate the side mounting plates 23 and 24 and above the brush 5! in such a manner that the teeth of the comb project into the bristles of the brush to remove any adhering particles. The particles collected by "the comb tend to drop downwardly into the dust pan.

The single rear wheel 28 mounted at the apex of the sweeper which is to the rear of and in termediate the drive wheels 26 and 2! serves two particular functions. It provides a rolling support for the rear of the sweeper and also permits equal transmission of power to the brush drive bushings M tt and the brush 5| driven thereby, when the sweeper is pushed forward or pulled backward in a straight direction, or on any size of arc.

Various uses and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A carpet sweeper having a casing; a brush rotatably mounted in the casing; drive bushings on the ends of the brush; drive wheels at oposite sides o e casi a d dr e s b ng recessed to provide-concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive wheels pivotally mounted in said casing said drive wheels being responsive to movements. of said casings to bring theirinner and Oiitilfridtional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact. with said. brush drive bushings.

2; A carpet. sweeperv having upper and lower casing" members; a'brush rotatably mounted in the upper. casing. member; drive. bushings on the en'dsiof i the brush; drive. wheelsat opposite sides of the. casing. of cup-shape. to. provide concentricallyspaced frictional driving. surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive. wheels pivotally mounted-in said casing; said drive wheels being responsivetomovements of'said. casing to bring their. inner and outer frictional. driving, surfaces alternatelyinto frictionalcontact with said brush drive bushings.

' 3. A carpet sweeper. having a casing; a brush rotatably mounted in thefcasing'; drive bushings onthe, 'end's'ofthe brush; drivev wheels at op.- posite sidesof the casing, said'wheels being cupshaped to provide concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces to provide alternate frictional contactwith said bushings, an axle forsaid drive wheels resiliently 'mounted in said casing and movable both horizontally and vertically in said casing; said drive wheels being responsive to movements of said casing to bring their inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact .with said brush drive bushings,

4. A carpet sweeper having a casing; a brush rotatably mounted in the. casing; drive bushings on thev ends of the. brush; drive wheels at opposite sides of the casing, said wheels being recessed to provide'concentrically spaced frictional driving. surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive wheels resiliently mounted in said casing and movable both horizontally and vertically in said casing and means responsive to movements of said casing for moving. said drive wheels to bring their inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact with said brush drive bushings.

5. A carpet sweeper. having a casing; a brush rotatably mounted in the casing; drive bushings on the ends of the brush; drive wheels at opposite sides of the casing, said wheels having concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive wheels resiliently mounted in said casing and movable both horizontally and vertically in said casing means for moving said drive wheels to bring their inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact with the brush drive bushings, said means including a handle attached to the sweeper casing.

6. A carpet sweeper. having upper and lower casing members; a brush rotatably mounted in the upper casing member; drive bushings on the ends of the brush; drive wheels at opposite sides of the casing said wheels being of a recessed shape to provide concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive wheels resiliently mounted in said upper casing member and movable both horiz ontally and vertically in said casing members; means for moving said drive wheels to bring their inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact with said brush drive bushings, said lower casing member enclosing the bottom of said upper casing.

7. A carpet sweeper having a casing; a brush rotatably mounted in the casing; drive bushings on the ends of the brush; drive wheels at opposite sides of the casing, said wheels being cupshaped to provide concentrically spaced frictional drive surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive wheels mounted in said casing and movable both horizontally and vertically in said casing; resilient means pivoted at one of their ends in said casing vertically above the axis of said wheels and pivoted at their other ends on said axle adjacent said wheels, whereby downward pressure on said casing moves said casing downward with respect to said drive wheels and their axle, thereby providing adjustment between said brush and the surface being cleaned, and means responsive to movements of said casing for moving said drive wheels to bring their inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact with said brush drive bushings.

8. A carpet sweeper having upper and lower casing members, said lower casing member enclosing the bottom of said upper casing; a brush rotatably mounted in the upper casing member; drive bushings on the ends of the brush; drive wheels at opposite sides of the casing, said wheels being recessed between the rim and hub thereof to provide inner and outer frictional driving surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive wheels mounted in said upper casing member and movable both horizontally and vertically in said casing members; resilient means pivoted at one of their ends in said upper casing member vertically above the axis of said wheels and pivoted at their other ends on said axle adjacent said drive wheels, whereby downward pressure on said upper casing member moves said casing members downward with respect to said drive wheels and their axle thereby providing adjustment between said brush and the surface being cleaned, and means responsive to movements of said upper bring their inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact with said brush drive bushings.

9. A carpet sweeper having a casing; a brush rotatably mounted in the casing; drive bushings on the ends of the brush; drive wheels at opposite sides of the casing, said wheels being recessed to provide concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive wheels resiliently mounted in said casing and movable both horizontally and vertically in said casing; a rear wheel in said casing positioned to the rear of and intermediate said drive wheels, whereby equal transmission of power is applied to said brush drive bushings when the sweeper is moved on the surface being cleaned, and means responsive to movements of said casing for moving said drive wheels to bring their inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact with said brush drive bushings.

16. A carpet sweeper having a casing; a brush rotatably mounted in the casing; drive bushings on the ends of the brush; drive wheels at opposite sides of the casing, said drive wheels being recessed to provide concentrically spaced frictional drive surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive wheels mounted-in said casing and movable both horizontally and vertically in said casing; resilient means pivoted at one of their ends in said casing vertically above the axis of said wheels and pivoted at their other ends on said axle adjacent said drive wheels, whereby downward pressure on said casing moves said casing downward with respect to said drive wheels and their axle thereby providing adjustment between said brush and the surface being cleaned; a rear wheel in said casing positioned to the rear of and intermediate said drive wheels, whereby equal transmission of power is applied to said brush drive bushings when the sweeper is moved on the surface being cleaned, and means responsive to movements of said casing for moving said drive wheels to bring their inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact with said brush drive bushings.

11. A carpet sweeper having upper and lower casin members; a brush rotatably mounted in the upper casing member; drive bushings on the ends of the brush; drive wheels at opposite sides of the casing, said wheels being provided with an annular groove to provide inner and outer frictional driving surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with said bushings; an axle for said drive wheels resiliently mounted in said upper casing member and movable both horizontally and vertically in said casing members; means for moving said drive wheels to bring their inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact with said brush drive bushings, said lower casing member enclosing the bottom of said upper casing and having a reinforcing member secured to its inside forward portion.

12. A drive for a brush of a carpet sweeper comprising a support, a brush rotatably mounted in said support having a brush drive bushing at its end, an axle movably mounted in said support, a drive wheel rotatably mounted on said axle, said wheel having an extending hub to constitute an inner driving surface and having an overhanging rim the inner surface of which constitutes an outer driving surface, said drive wheel being responsive to movements of said support to bring the said inner and outer frictional driving surfaces alternately into frictional contact with said brush drive bushing.

13. In a carpet sweeper, a casing, a brush driving shaft rotatably mounted in the casing, a floorengageable drive wheel, the wheel being recessed t provide concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces respectively positioned adjacent portions of a driving surface on said shaft which are substantially diametrically opposite to each other, and a carrier for said drive wheel mounted in said casing, said carrier mounting being arranged to permit movement of the wheel lengthwise of said casing by movement of the casing upon a floor to thereby bring one or the other of said driving surfaces into contact with said shaft according to the direction of movement of said carrier relative to said casing.

14. In a carpet sweeper, a casing, a brush driving shaft rotatably mounted in the casing, a floorengageable drive wheel, the wheel being recessed to provide concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces respectively positioned adjacent portions of a driving surface on said shaft which are substantially diametrically opposite to each other, and a carrier for said drive wheel mounted in said casing, said carrier mounting being arranged to permit movement of the wheel lengthwise of said casing by movement of the casing upon a floor to thereby bring one or the other of said driving surfaces into contact with said shaft according to the direction of movement of said carrier relative to said casing.

15. In a carpet sweeper, a casing, a brush driving shaft rotatably mounted in the casing, a floorengageable drive wheel, the wheel being recessed to provide concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces respectively positioned adjacent portions of a driving surface on said shaft which are substantially diametrically opposite to each other, and a carrier for said drive wheel mounted on said casing for swinging movement lengthwise of the casing by movement of the latter upon a floor to thereby bring one or the other of said driving surfaces into contact with said shaft according to the direction of swinging movement of said carrier relative to said casing.

16. In a carpet sweeper, a casing, a brush driving shaft element rotatably mounted in the easing, a floor-engaging wheel element, one of said elements being recessed to provide concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces respectively positioned adjacent peripheral portions of a driving surface on the other element which are substantially diametrically opposite to each other, and a carrier for one of said elements movably mounted in the casing and arranged to provide for movement of the said element lengthwise of said casing by movement of the latter upon a floor to thereby bring one or the other of said peripheral surfaces into contact with the other element according to the direction of movement of said carrier relative to said casing.

17. A carpet sweeper including a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in the casing, a brush rotatable with said shaft, drive wheels at opposite sides of the casing, said drive wheels being recessed to provide concentrically spaced frictional driving surfaces to provide alternate frictional contact with driving surfaces on said shaft, a carrier for said drive Wheels mounted for swinging movement in said casing to bring the inner and outer frictional driving surfaces of said drive wheels alternately into frictional contact with said shaft.

MAURITS DE KADT. JACQUES DE KADT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 541,495 Paris June 25, 1895 642,172 Sweitzer Jan. 30, 1900 1,712,922 Lindgren May 12, 1929 1,741,163 Owen Dec. 31, 1929 1,972,870 Christesen Sept. 11, 1934 2,166,977 Smith July 25, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,880 Great Britain June 23, 1896 293,744 Germany Aug. 26, 1916 

